Moving into a new flat meant one thing – time for some more plants! Staying home pretty much 24/7 in 2020, I wanted to create a space that was relaxing and comforting, and what better than a bunch of plants to keep my zen. Staying true to this in 2021, (with another national lockdown to thank!) I am embracing the dutch idea of niksen – stress management by doing nothing – and what better way to embody this idea than by doing nothing in my own indoor jungle.
I wanted to write a short post about some of the positives having house plants can bring, as well as showcase a couple of my favourite plants that prove you don’t need to be Alan Titchmarsh to keep a plant alive!
House plants have numerous benefits. Not only do they make your home look nice, but they are proven to have many other benefits:
- Through taking care of house plants and watching them grow we can learn a lot about our own personal growth, and this in turn can be very therapeutic and calming. Growing a plant can bring feelings of pride and accomplishment, boosting our self-confidence and joy.
- Being surrounded by nature indoors reduce our stress and anxiety levels, similarly to how we would when taking a ‘walk in nature’.
- House plants reduce indoor pollution and purify the air in our homes by absorbing the harmful toxins in our air, storing them for food and breaking them into smaller, gentler by-products, benefiting our physical health as we breath better air.
- Indoor plants are proven to increase productivity and creativity and are often why so many offices have plants. In a year where we’ve all been working from home, a little productivity boost in the form of an aesthetic plant can’t go amiss.
Since beginning my plant journey (you can read this here), I seem to have added a few more additions to my plant family – hey I’ve got a whole flat to fill now! Here are a few of these plants and how I am attempting to care for them, for anyone wanting ideas of the perfect new house plant!
Watermelon Peperomia
I recently found this beauty on Beards & Daisies whilst plant shopping. She was the perfect choice for my chest of drawers, as she prefers dappled light. She needs watering little but often when the soil is dry and enjoys being misted weekly too!
Peace Lily
My wonderful friend gifted me this peace lily as a house warming gift and she really is a beauty. Peace Lilies are fab for those wanting a plant easy to look after, as there leaves tell you so much. Brown tips = over-watered, yellow leaves = too much light. With this in mind, only water when top of the soil is dry and place in an area with indirect, bright light. When the flowers are beginning to fade, trim at the stem and wait until she regrows.
Chinese Money Plant
I’ve had this plant for over a year now, and touch wood he’s still going strong! This plant is quite easy to look after and only needs watering when the soil is dry to touch. As long as you place him in a medium light, you should be good to go.
Fiddle-leaf Fig
Perhaps my most boujee plant and whilst I love all my plants this certainly is a secret fave. This plant is a statement piece for sure and is actually surprisingly easy to look after. She likes indirect bright light, and can stand some sunshine. She only needs watering when the soil is dry, leaves wiping with a damp cloth when dusty and a weekly misting.
Dracaena Fragrans Warneckei
An complicated name for such a beautiful plant. This is perhaps the most challenging plant I own, but even with that said, it’s still not too tricky! The plant needs to be placed in bright, indirect light – direct sunlight will damage the leaves. The leaves need dusting occasionally with a damp cloth and she will benefit from weekly misting. She needs regular watering in spring/summer and less frequent in autumn/winter. The leaves will begin to curl if under-watered or discolour if over-watered. In autumn, she will shed her lower yellow leaves, and this is a time to prune her if required.
I hope you are all keeping safe and well. Let me know what your favourite plants are in the comments!
Eleanor x
Eleanor Margaret 